Reptiles and Frogs of Durokoppin and Kodj Kodjin

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V REPTILES AND FROGS OF DUROKOPPIN AND J{ODJ KODJIN NATURE RESERVES JOHN DELL and A. CHAPMAN Reptiles and frogs were collected on Durokoppin (DR) and Kodj Kodjin Reserves (KKR) between 8-17 October 1975 and 8-15 April 1976. A few specimens were collected on 26-27 January 1977. Specimens were collected by similar methods to those outlined by Chapman & Dell (1978). For location and deta Is of Reserves see Muir (this report). Specimens caught (R56497-56663) are in the Western Australian Museum. Measurements are in millimetres. LEPTODACTYLIDAE Heleioporus albopunctatus DR. Common at night along watercourses in Wandoo woodland (Eucalyptus wandoo) in April and October. Four collected in April in DR loco 1.5 and 5 collected in October in DR loco 1.23. Pseudophryne guentheri DR. At night along watercourses in woodland and mallee. Two collected in DR loco 1.5 in April and one under litter in mallee in October. Tadpoles numerous in drying-up pools in DR loco 1.25 on 14 April. Tadpoles had not developed hind-limbs.

GEKKONIDAE Crenadactylus ocellatus DR and KKR. Woodland and scrub. One collected in KKR loco 1.5 in April; one collected in DR loco 3.7 in October. Diplodactylus maini DR and KKR. Woodland, shrubland and heath. Collected in DR loco 1.5, 1.23, 3.25, 3.26, 3.33, 4.2, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.9, and KKR loco 1.5. Thirty three collected on DR in April and 4 in- October; 6 collected on KKR in April and 2 in October. Five October males (SVL 40-46) were probably breeding, they had enlarged testes up to 5.5 mm long. Two October females (SVL 45,46) were commencing breeding, they had one large follicle ca 3.5 mm in each ovary and up to 5 small follicles < 1.5 mm. In April there were two population sizes: 25 adults ranged from SVL 39-48 and 8 juveniles ranged from SVL 27-34 (mean 31). Of the adults, 13

69 were males ranging from SVL 39-45 (mean 43) and 12 were females ranging from SVL 42-48 (mean 45.1). In April many were seen but not collected along tracks on DR. Forty three were counted in 1 km of track through DR loco 3.26, 4.5, 3.25, 2.4, 3.30 and 4.6. Diplodactylus pulcher DR. Woodland, mallee and shrubland. Seven collected in April in DR loco 1.5, 2.4, 3.29 and 3.33. Six were adults and 1 was juvenile. Four had stomachs crammed with between 80 and 120 Eutermes sp. termites. Diplodactylus spinigerus DR. Shrubland. One collected in October in DR loco 3.29. It was a male (SVL 61), probably breeding, and had large testes (12 mm). Diplodactylus granariensis DR. Woodland. Three collected in DR loco 1.5 in April, 2 collected in DR loco 1.16 in January. Gehyra variegata DR and KKR. Woodland, shrubland and lithic complex. Five collected in October, 7 in April, and 1 in January. Collected in DR loco 1.5, 1.15, 1.16, 3.21,3.22,5.1,5.2 and KKR loco 1.5. Two October males (SVL 42,48) were probably breeding, they had testes 5 mm long. An October female (SVL 49) had one large yolky follicle 4 mm long in the right ovary. The largest follicle in the left ovary was only 2 mm. Two population sizes were collected in April: 5 adults with SVL 42-51 (mean 44.6) and 2 subadults with SVL 39. The smallest juvenile (SVL 26) was collected in October. Heteronotia binoei DR. Woodland; under bulldozer spoil. One collected in DR loco 1.14 in October. It was a male (SVL 50), probably breeding, with large testes 6 mm long. Oedura reticulata DR and KKR. Woodland; on KKR they were at the base of Wandoo or Gimlet (E. salubris) trees. Two collected in April, 9 in October and 1 in January. Collected in DR loco 1.16, 1.22 and KKR loco 1.5,1.8. Three October males (SVL 58-62) were probably breeding, they had

70 large testes 8 mm long. Two October females (SVL 66,69) had a large follicle 4.5 mm long in each ovary. Each ovary also had 4 or 5 small follicles < 1.5 mm. Three October specimens were juveniles (SVL 31-32). Phyllurus milii DR. Lithic complex under exfoliated granite in DR loco 5.1. One collected in October - male (SVL 79) probably breeding, it had large testes 8 mm long.

PYGOPODIDAE Delma australis DR. Shrubland; under roadside spoil. Three collected in October in DR loco 3.7. Two males (SVL 58, 60) were probably breeding, they had large testes 6 and 9 mm long respectively. A female (SVL 70) had one large follicle (2.5 mm) in each ovary, and 3 small follicles < 1.5 mm. Delma fraseri DR. Shrubland; under roadside spoil. Three collected in October in DR loco 3.7. Two males (SVL 100, 108) were probably breeding, they had large testes 11 and 13 mm long respectively. A female (SVL 89) had one large follicle 3 mm in each ovary, and 2 small follicles < 1.5 mm. The stomach of the female had the remains of a cockroach (Blattidae). Lialis burtonis DR. Shrubland; one collected in October in DR loco 3.24. It was a male (SVL 127), probably breeding, with large testes 8 mm long. An adult skink Morethia obscura was in its stomach. Pygopus lepidopus DR. Mallee; one collected in October in DR loco 2.5. It was a female (SVL 180) and had one egg in each oviduct. Eggs measured 29 and 26 mm respectively. Each ovary had a large yolky follicle 6 mm long and three smaller follicles grading from 4 mm to 1.5 mm. This specimen could possibly produce five clutches, each of two eggs.

AGAMIDAE Amphibolurus cristatus DR and KKR. Woodland and mallee. One collected in January, one in April and two in October; in DR loco 1.20, and KKR loco 1.5 and 2.3.

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An October male (SVL 87) was probably breeding, it had large testes 8 mm long. An October female had two large yolky follicles 7 mm long in the right ovary and three similar size follicles in the left. In the right and left ovaries respectively there were 7 and 8 small follicles less than 2 mm long. All sightings were in woodland or mallee where some fallen trees exceeded 15 cm in diameter; they provide hollow logs in which the animals live. The January specimen had several species of terrestrial Coleoptera, numerous Formicidae, a centipede (Chilopoda) and a Hemiptera in its stomach. Amphibolurus maculatus griseus DR. Shrubland and heath. One collected in April and two in October; in DR loco 3.24, 3.25 and 4.3. Two males (SVL 47,54) collected in October were probably breeding, they had large testes 5 mm long. Amphibolurus minor DR. Heath; one collected in October in DR loco 4.3. It was a female (SVL 103) with four eggs in the left oviduct and three in the right. Eggs were ca 22 mm long. Amphibolurus ornatus DR. Lithic complex; two collected in October at DR loco 5.2. A male (SVL 92) was probably breeding, it had large testes 7 mm long. A female (SVL 91) had two eggs in the right oviduct and one in the left; eggs were 22 mm long. Amphibolurus reticulatus DR. Shrubland; one collected in October under bulldozer spoil in DR loc.3.14.

SCINCIDAE Cryptoblepharus plagiocephalus DR and KKR. Woodland. Two collected in April and one in October; in DR loco 1.20 and KKR loco 1.5. A tiny juvenile (SVL 20) was collected in April. Ctenotus pantherinus DR and KKR. Shrubland; under bulldozer spoil and in burrows or under rubbish'in gravel-pits. Three collected in April and seven in October. Three

72 October males (SVL 77-81) were probably breeding, they had large testes 8-10 mm long compared to an April male (SVL 67) with 4 mm testes. Ctenotus schomburgkii DR and KKR. Woodland, mallee, shrubland and heath. Four collected in April and one in October; in DR loco 3.24, 4.3 and KKR loco 1.5 and 2.9. In April they were active during daytime; the October specimen was caught in a pit-trap. Lerista muelleri DR and KKR. Woodland and shrubland; under bulldozer spoil and in rotting logs. Two .collected in April and ten in October; in DR loco 3.7 and KKR loco 1.5. Two October males (SVL 39) had large testes 3.5 mm long. An October female (SVL 41) had follicles only 0.8 mm diameter, whereas two April females (SVL 43) had follicles between 1 mm and 1.5 mm diameter. Menetia greyii DR and KKR. Woodland and lithic complex. Two collected in April; in DR loco 5.1 and KKR loco 1.5. Morethia obscura DR and KKR. Mallee and shrubland. One collected in October in KKR loco 2.9. It was a male (SVL 45) with large testes 6.5 mm long. One was found in the stomach of a Lialis burtonis collected in October in DR loco 3.24 Tiliqua occipitalis DR and KKR. One collected. on each Reserve in October; four others seen. DR loco 1.6, 3.7 and KKR loco 3.2. Tiliqua rugosa DR and KKR. One collected on KKR in October, many others seen on both Reserves. Recorded in DR loco 1.5, 2.5, 3.7, 3.8, 3.23,4.3,5.1 and KKR loco 1.5,2.10, 3.2.

ELAPIDAE Denisonia gouldii DR. Shrubland and heath. Three collected in October; in DR loco 3.7 and 4.3. They were under bulldozer spoil.

73 Pseudechis australis DR. Shrubland. A juvenile was run-over on track in DR loco 3.23 in October. Pseudonaja nuchalis KKR. Woodland. A juvenile was collected in October in a hollow log in KKR loc.1.5. Vermicella bertholdi KKR. Woodland. One collected in October in termite mound in KKR loco 1.5. Vermicella semifasciata DR. Shrubland. Two collected in April under bulldozer spoil in DR loco 4.3.

DISCUSSION A total of two frogs and thirty-one reptile species were collected on Durokoppin and Kodj Kodjin Reserves. Of these, eighteen were confined to DR and two confined to KKR. Thus, only thirteen species were common to both Reserves. Two species, Phyllurus milii and Amphibolurus ornatus were collected on granite which is confined to DR. If we omit frogs which require certain types of drainage the remaining sixteen species had a mean number of 2.3 individuals collected per species. This is in contrast to a mean of 9.6 for the thirteen species common to both Reserves. It is likely that collection bias is responsible for apparent differences between the Reserves. Excluding external bouhdaries there is ca 9.5 km of tracks on DR and only ca 1 km on KKR. Seven species collected only on DR were on tracks or bulldozer spoil on edges of tracks. The herpetofauna of DR and KKR is typical for the wheatbelt generally; all species have been collected on other reserves being studied in the wheatbelt survey. Breeding data is included for 18 species. The frog Pseudophryne guentheri had tadpoles in April; six gecko species, four pygopodids, four agamids and three skinks had enlarged testes (some also had yolky ovarian follicles) in October, indicating they were commencing breeding. Included in this list are Amphibolurus minor and A. ornatus which had eggs in their oviducts.

74 VI ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The October 1975 faunal survey of Durokoppin and Kodj Kodjin Reserves was in part conducted by K. Morris, M. Jackson and G. Harold while they were wholly supported by a Regional Employment Development Scheme grant to D.J. Kitchener. The vegetation study was supported by an Australian Biological Resources Study Interim Council grant to D.J. Kitchener. Staff of the Western Australian Herbarium assisted with identification of some of the plants. We would also like to thank G. Barron for assistance in the field; and Susan Postmus for identifying stomach contents of reptiles and mammals. We are grateful to G.M. Storr for reading the manuscript.

75 VII REFERENCES ANON. (1958)-Climatological survey: eastern wheatbelt West. Australia. Melbourne: Bureau of Meteorology. ANON. (1963)-Australia: average evaporation in inches (Australian Standard Tank). Map. Canberra: Bureau of Meteorology. ANON. (1975)-Climatic averages. Western Australia. Canberra: Aust. Govt. Publ. Service. BEADLE, N.C.W. & COSTIN, A.B. (1952)-Ecological classification and nomenclature. Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 77: 61-82. CHAPMAN, A. & DELL, J. (1978)-Reptiles and frogs of Dongolocking Nature Reserve. In: Biological survey of the Western Australian wheatbelt. Part 5. Rec. West. Aust. Mus. Suppl. no. 6: 71-77. CHAPMAN, A. & KITCHENER, D.J. (1977)-Mammals of Cockleshell Gully Reserve and adjacent areas. In: A vertebrate survey of Cockleshell Gully Reserve, Western Australia. Rec. West. Aust. Mus. Suppl. no. 4: 15-35. CROSSMAN, A.F. (1909)-Birds seen at Cumminin Station, Western Australia. Emu 9: 84-90. DELL, J. (1977)-Birds of Bendering and West Bendering Nature Reserves. In: Biological survey of the Western Australian wheatbelt. Part 3. Rec. West. Aust. Mus. Suppl. no. 5: 31-46. DELL, J. (1978)-Birds of Dongolocking Nature Reserve. In: Biological survey of the Western Australian wheatbelt. Part 5. Rec. West. Aust. Mus. Suppl. no. 6: 59-70. DELL, J. & JOHNSTONE, R.E. (1976)-Birds of Tarin Rock and North Tarin Rock Reserves. In: Biological survey of the Western Australian wheatbelt. Part 1. Rec. West. Aust. Mus. Suppl. no. 2: 69-84. FORD, J.R. & STONE, P.S. (1957)-Birds of the Kellerberrin/Kwolyin district, Western Australia. Emu 57: 9-21. GARDNER, C.A. & BENNETTS, H.W. (1956)-The toxic plants of Western Australia. Perth: West Australian Newspapers. KITCHENER, D.J. (1976)-Preface to the biologiCal survey of the Western Australian wheatbelt. Rec. West. Aust. Mus. Suppl. no. 2: 3-10. KITCHENER, D.J. & CHAPMAN, A. (1976)-Mammals of Tarin Rock and North Tarin Rock Reserves. In: Biological survey of the Western Australian wheatbelt. Part 1. Rec. West. Aust. Mus. Suppl. no. 2: 61-67. LEAKE, B.W. (1962)-Eastern wheatbelt wildlife. Perth: B.W. Leake. MUIR, B.G. (1977a)-Biological survey of the Western Australian wheatbelt. Part 2. Vegetation and habitat of Bendering Reserve. Rec. West. Aust. Mus. Suppl. no. 3. MUIR, E.G. (1977b)-Biological survey of the Western Australian wheatbelt. Part 4: Vegetation of West Bendering Nature Reserve. Rec. West. Aust. Mus. Suppl. no. 5. MUIR, B.G. (1978)-Vegetation of Dongolocking Nature Reserve. In: Biological survey of the Western Australian wheatbelt. Part 5. Rec. West. Aust. Mus. Suppl. no. 6: 17-51. POLUNIN, N. (1960)-Introduction to plant geography. London: Longmans. SPECHT, R.L., ROE, E.M. & BOUGHTON, V.H. (1974)-Conservation of major plant communities in Australia and New Guinea. Aust. J. Bot. Suppl. no. 7.